The recent update on Jordan Montgomery will likely give jitters to the Yankees and an edge to the Red Sox in pursuing the left-handed free-agent pitcher.
According to a report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive on Tuesday, it was revealed that Montgomery, aged 30, has relocated to Boston. This move comes as his wife, McKenzie Dirr, starts a dermatology residency at a local hospital.
“Montgomery has been working out and throwing at Boston College in recent weeks, according to multiple sources,” said Cotillo.
Yankees face Red Sox competition for Montgomery
The Red Sox’s interest in Montgomery came to light during a meeting between the team’s new chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, and the pitcher’s representatives at the General Manager Meetings in November, as reported by Sean McAdam of MassLive.
During the 2023 season, Montgomery reached personal bests in victories with 10, an ERA of 3.20, strikeouts totaling 166, and innings pitched amounting to 188.2. His notable contributions played a key role in the Rangers’ World Series triumph, featuring in six postseason games (five starts) and securing a 3-1 record with an impressive 2.90 ERA across 31 innings.
Following a period of limited appearances in 2018-19 due to Tommy John surgery, Montgomery has established himself as a reliable presence on the mound. Over the three seasons spanning 2021-2023 (excluding 2020 due to the shortened season caused by COVID), he started 94 games, boasting a 3.48 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 524 1/3 innings.
Yankees made a mistake by letting him go
During the 2022 season, the Yankees traded Montgomery to the Cardinals as they didn’t foresee him as a key figure in their postseason pitching rotation. In exchange, the Yankees acquired Harrison Bader. However, Bader’s impact over a little more than a year with the team was limited, playing in only 98 games and producing a .237 batting average alongside a .627 OPS. He managed seven home runs, 46 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases during this period.
On August 29, the Yankees released Bader and within two days, the Reds secured his rights.
Jon Heyman from The New York Post disclosed last Thursday that the Yankees had shown interest in returning Montgomery to their roster. While the pitcher played for Texas, he sported No. 52 as a tribute to his former teammate, CC-Sabathia. Sabathia, who fondly regarded Montgomery as his “little brother,” received a text from him after the number change when he joined the Rangers.
Sabathia mentioned, as reported by Gary Philips of The New York Daily News in October, that the number Montgomery wore might have been a remnant or leftover. However, Sabathia revealed that the pitcher texted him immediately upon receiving the number, expressing the intention to wear 52 as a tribute to Sabathia’s impactful second-half performance in Milwaukee in 2008. Sabathia noted that Montgomery has consistently matched that number, which has been a positive experience.
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